Texas GOP Divided After Candidate's Post on UT Student Section Photo

A photo of the University of Texas football student section has ignited a political firestorm after a Republican candidate suggested it showed displacement by foreign students. The controversy began on September 13, 2026, when Bo French, the Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner, shared an image from the Longhorns' game against Ohio State. French posted on social media that the photo showed how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners, adding that the problem was far worse than imagined. The post drew immediate and bipartisan criticism from within the Texas Republican Party. U.S. Senator John Cornyn called the comments intolerant and racist, warning that such rhetoric could lead to the self-destruction of a great political party. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows stated that French had crossed a line, arguing that one can oppose immigration policy without demeaning people based on race or ethnicity. Former House Speaker Dade Phelan declared French unfit for office. University of Texas enrollment data contradicts the core implication of French's post. For the 2025-26 academic year, Texas residents comprised 80.5% of the total student body.